The Russellville Police Department (RPD) is typically seen patrolling the streets and protecting citizens in their cruisers. This summer, a new way to serve the community was implemented - bike cops.

Officer Ricky Hendrix said he decided to sign up for the program due to some previous experience with it and also to mingle with the community.

"I had done some at the previous department I was with, so when they sent out a memo to ask if anyone was interested, I joined," he said. "I enjoy it because I guess I'm kind of a talker. I can talk to anybody. My wife says I should be in politics, but I can sit down and talk with anybody, it seems like. When you're on a bicycle, you are more approachable to the public than you are in a car. People, for some reason, they don't feel bad saying hey to you when they stop and you are on the bicycle."

The program officially began in July during Russellville's Freedom Fest celebration with eight officers active on bike patrol including Hendrix, Roberto Aponte, Joe Paterak, James Hodge, Blake Bradley, Russell Hill, Chris Koch and Chris Isabel. Officer Bryce Davenport can often be seen biking during special events. There are typically two bike patrol officers per shift, unless manpower is limited.

"I've been on the bike more than I've been in the car," Hendrix said. "The only thing that keeps us out is extreme heat, extreme inclement weather like lightning and rain and low manpower. If we don't have enough people for me to ride on the bike, I will be in the car taking normal calls like regular."

Bike officers aren't restricted in the types of calls they can handle. Hendrix said the only thing that can hold a bike officer back is distance.

"We are capable of handling every call that you would on patrol," he said. "Obviously, distance slows us down some. We can't use all of our energy getting to a hot call if we have a disturbance involving weapons. We have to back off and conserve some of our energy. The officers driving up in cars are ready to go. When we hit the ground and we've rode hard 20 blocks, we are spent when we get to the disturbance and we aren't going to be very effective. Things we concentrate on are parking lot accidents - basically anything we are close to. We still handle everything we normally do in a car. It just might take us a minute or two longer to get there."

Along with patrolling the city's streets, Hendrix said bike officers patrol the city's parks and shopping centers where there is a large public concentration.

"We have pretty much free reign of the city," Hendrix said. "We are spread out geographically in Russellville. Areas like the city park and marina, we will have bike racks and drive our bikes up there and ride back. We will drive up and park and patrol, but pretty much we just ride from the station."

Hendrix said he believes the bike program has been successful, with a positive impact on the community.

"I feel like it has helped out public perception," he said. "It makes us more approachable, seem more friendly.

"I've had a lot of good community feedback and the things I've heard have all been positive," he continued. "Some of our officers were more skeptical and didn't think it was necessary or a good idea, but we have tried to preach it in training and through practice to see it is a good cause and we can be as effective. I know all the runners and walkers at Bona Dea are very pleased with the bike program starting up. They have been very vocal stopping and talking saying 'Hey, glad to see you out here.'"

Share the road

With the new bike program and the recently cyclist fatality, the RPD encourages citizens to become aware of cyclists in the Share the Road campaign.

"We are trying to promote safety on the road because cyclists have the right to be on the road," Public Information Officer Joshua McMillian said.

According to a Russellville city ordinance, cyclists are not allowed to ride on sidewalks within the city limits, with the exception of crossing at an intersection or when on public or private alleys and driveways.

Hendrix said cyclists are actually safer on the road than on the sidewalk.

"When's the last time you walked out of a shop downtown and looked out the door to see if there's a bicyclist heading down the sidewalk?" Hendrix asked. "Nobody ever checks as you are walking out of a shop downtown to see if there is a cyclist down the sidewalk before you throw the door open. People kind of expect to see a bicycle on the roadway, but pedestrians still don't expect to see bicycles on the sidewalks."

With that said, Hendrix believes there are certain situations where it is safer to ride on a sidewalk.

"It differs in my opinion on where you are safer," he said. "If you are on State Highway 7 where the average traffic speed is 55-65 mph, you know, you are safer on the sidewalk that is going up and down through there, but if you are downtown, the average speed is 25-30 mph. You are safer in the roadway."

Tips for drivers

"Be more aware. Be visible," Hendrix said. "If you see a cyclist, try to treat them as a vehicle. Expect them to make the same moves as any other vehicle on the roadway. Cyclists are not always easy to see. When you pass them, pass them with care and make sure you give them plenty of room. Try not to crowd the cyclist. "Even if you don't hit them, you could run them off the road and cause severe injury. Be patient. Just be patient. It won't be a couple of seconds you can pass them down the road."

While on bike patrol, Hendrix has noticed some uncertainties among drivers when it comes to passing cyclists.

"I've found that people don't know if they can pass you, like if it's a double yellow line, they will be concerned whether they can pass you to get around you. As long as you can do it safely to avoid oncoming traffic, state law allows you to pass a cyclist even if you have to go somewhat across the yellow line. Slow down, double check for oncoming traffic. If you have to go into the other lane, do it cautiously.

Tips for cyclists

With bike officers riding during the day and night, Hendrix advises all cyclists to be fully equipped.

"Cyclists should be encouraged to wear high-visibility clothing, have proper reflective materials, a well fitted helmet," he said. "(At night) all cyclists riding on the roadway must be equipped with a headlight or flashing or constant red light to the rear as well as your reflectors. You must be visible for at least 500 feet. All cyclists operating on the roadway must follow all rules of the road. Speed limit isn't really an issue, but everything else does follow, you have to follow all the other rules, just as you are operating a vehicle."